Automatic linecasting and composing machines



July 2, 1957 E. R. GUTZMER 2,797,797

AUTOMATIC LINECASTING AND COMPOSING MACHINES Filed Sept. 1, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet l fizz/en 2'0?" 58 Ernesi R Guizmer y 2, 1957 E. R. GUTZMER 2,797,797

AUTOMATIC LINECASTING AND COMPOSING MACHINES- Filed Sept. 1, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet -2 I 35 7 Q2 j; R Zg rnesi u Zmer July 2, 1957 E. R. GUTZMER 2,797,797

AUTOMATIC LINECASTING AND COMPOSING MACHINES Filed Sept. 1, 1.955 .v 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 m, Mu M M51175:

Unite States Patent filice 2,797,797 Patented July 2, 1 957 AUTOMATIC LINECASTING AND COMPOSlNG MACHINES Ernest R..Gutzmer, Hinsdale, IlL, assignor to IntercompanyCoi-poration', Chicago, Ill.,

Application September 1, 1955,.Serial No. 531,987

8 Claims. (Cl. 199--21) This invention relates to automatic or record controlled linecasting and composing machines, and particularly to such machines of the mixer type.

Linecasting and composing machines as now used are primarily intended for manual operation through the use of the keyboard control mechanism thereof, but inthe interests of speed and economy of operation many users, particularly in the newspaper field, resort to the use of automatic control mechanism for such machines so that a record such as a perforated control tape may exercise control of the linecasting and composing machine. Such automatic record control has been found in practice to be. highly satisfactory in connection with many kinds of publication work, but where the composition requires an extremely Wide variety of type characters, the use of automatic record control of such machines has been so complicated as to be prohibitive in an economic sense.

Thus, in linecasting and composing machines the matrices that are employed in composing and casting the slugs or lines of type are supplied from a magazine which is of limited capacity, and any character or type face not included in such a magazine must be obtained from another source such as another magazine. Ordinarily a magazine contains a supply of all the characters of a particular font along with the related spacer slides, and where the composition includes characters other than those contained in the magazine, a different magazine must be brought into play. For meeting such situations, machines having multiple magazines have long been known wherein manually controlled means were provided for changing magazines, and such machines have been known as mixing-machines.

Mixing-machines of the aforesaid character have long been used in association with automatic record control mechanism, but where mixing has been required in such installations, this has been done by causing the machine to temporarily stop while the control operations required for mixing were. performed manually by the attending operator. Thus a large part of the benefits usually attained by automatic control were sacrificed when mixing operation was required.

In view of the foregoing it is the primary object of the present invention to enable mixing to be automatically attained in record controlled linecasting and composing machines, and objects related to the foregoing are to enable this to be accomplished by means of a simple character that is coordinated with the normal operating characteristics of conventional linecasting and composing machines, and to minimize the time required to acaforesaid automatic control of mixing to be attained in such a manner as to be coordinated with the normal modes of operation of the mechanisms heretofore used and with the minimum of physical alteration thereof.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, by way of illustration, show a preferred embodiment, of the present invention and the principles thereof, and what is now considered to be the best mode in which to apply these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a portion of the apparatus of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the magazines and shiftable assembler entrance of the linecasting. and composing machine; and

Fig. 3 is a schematic wiring diagram showing the way in which the operating and control elements of the apparatus are associated under the invention.

For purposes of disclosure the invention is herein illustrated as embodied in a four-magazine mixer type linecasting. and composing machine 20 that is controlled automatically by a known high speed record reading control apparatus 21, and under the present invention, the elements of the .linecasting and composing machine 20 that are involved in mixing operation of the machine are shifted automatically as required under the control of appropriate coded perforations 22P formed in the usual control tape 22 which also serves its usual control function in respect to the machine 20. While the lineoasting and composing machine 20 and the reading con,- trol apparatus 21 are but fragmentally shown herein, it should be pointed out that in their primary details of structure and operation such machines and such controlapparatus are well known and understood in the art, and for this reason the present disclosure is confined to those operative elements that are immediately concerned with the attainment of automatic record controlled mixed composition, Thus, the linecast-ing and composing machine 20 may be the well known Model 29 Linotype machine made and sold by Mergenthaler Linotype Company, of Brooklyn, New York, and described in the book entitled Linotype Machine Principles, published under a 1940 copyright by such company; and such machine 20 is of the mixing machine type, having four magazines M-1, M-2, M-3 and M-4 with means, to distribute returned matrices to any selected pair of adjacent magazines, thus to provide for continuous mixed composition from any adjacent pair of such magazines. The record reading control apparatus or unit 21 may be the usual high speed operating unit made and sold' by Teletypesetter Corporation, and disclosed as to its basic structure in Walden Patent No. 2,006,848, Goetz et al. No. 2,006,860, Thienemann No. 2,060,838 and Krum et al. No. 2,091,286.

The reader unit 21 is belt driven in the usual manner from the main drive shaft of the machine 20, the constant driving source thus afforded serves to operate the unit 21 through a clutch means including a selector shaft clutch 25 that drives a selector shaft 26 of the-unit 21, in the general manner described in the aforesaid patents. The selector shaft clutch 25 is however arranged in the high speedcontrol unit so that it may be disengaged under control of a clutch magnet 25M that serves when energized to shift a stop lever 258 into an effective position wherein it serves to disengage the clutch 25. As one of q 0 its functions the selector shaft 26 serves in each revolution thereof to advance the tape 22 for a predetermined distance with respect to a reading or sensing station S, and then when the tape 22 has stopped at its new position, sensing means including selector levers 27 that are also controlled by the selector shaft 26 are effective to read the coded signal that is provided by the row of perforations 22? then presented at the sensing station.

The selector levers 27 operate as described in the aforesaid patents to control the setting of a plurality of code bars 28, which act in turn in accordance with the setting thereof to control operation of push bars 29 through which any one of a plurality of bell cranks 30 may be rocked in a counterclockwise direction, Fig. 1, through their operating movements.

In a conventional use and operation of the control unit 21 such bell cranks 30 are allocated to the respective keyboard bars 35 of the linecasting and composing machine 20 and are arranged so as to impart upward selecting movement to the respective bars 35. This is accomplished by centrally pivoted auxiliary key levers 36 connected at their rear ends to the respective bars 35 and having their forward ends underlying the rearwardly projecting arms 30A of the respective bell cranks 30. Thus when a bell crank 30 is actuated through its operating movement it is effective to operate the related keyboard bar 35.

In the usual operation the actuated keyboard bars 35 operate to control the release of the related matrices 40 from one of the magazines M-1, M-2, M-3 and M4,.

Fig. 2, that are provided in the machine 20, and this is accomplished by operating rods and levers of known form and arrangement that act on escapement elements 40E associated with the magazines. The released matrices 40 are guided to the usual assembler of the machine 20 by means including a front guide 41 and a' pivotally shiftable upper assembler entrance 42. The upper assembler entrance 42 is secured to and may be pivoted about the axis of a shaft 43 so that the entrance 42, with its escapement operating elements, may be shifted into cooperation with either one of two of the magazines, and it is by such shifting of the entrance that mixing operation of the machine 20 is carried out. The machine 20 is of the four-magazine type, and by adjustment of the magazine holder, the upper assembler entrance 42 may attain the mixing function in respect to any adjacent pair of such magazines.

Mixing operation in such linecasting and composing machines has heretofore been governed manually by the operator, even when such machines have been automatically controlled as to the other aspects of composition,

and for this purpose power operated manually controlled means for shifting or oscillating the upper assembler entrance 42 have been provided in such machines, and one such means is disclosed on pages 314 to 319 of the aforesaid book relating to such machines. In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention the conventional power operated means for shifting the assembler entrance 42 are disabled, and an independent power device isprovided in the form of a double acting air cylinder 45, the cylinder 45C of which is pivotally anchored at its lower end on the machine frame, and the piston rod 45R of which extends upwardly and is pivoted to the rear end of a lever 46. The lever 46 is pivoted intermediate its ends at 47 on the machine frame, while its forward end is connected by a link 48 to a rearwardly projecting lever 49 fixed on the shaft 43.

The cylinder 45C has its opposite ends connected to a,

- gized.

. 4 1 valves 56D or 56U is energized, its vent is closed, and the main valve passage is opened so as to pass pressure air to the related end of the cylinder 45.

When the assembler entrance 42 is to be shifted from its lower position to its upper position the valve 56U is energized, thus to supply pressure air to the upper end of the cylinder 45. This actuatesthe piston 45F downwardly, and through the lever and link system the assembler entrance '42 is moved to its upper position that is shown in dotted outline in Fig. 3. Conversely, when the assembler entrance 42 is to be returned to its lower position shownin full lines in Fig. 3, the valve 56D is ener- Under and in accordance with the presentinvention tll mixing function of the machine'20 is automatically controlled by the reading unit 21, and in accomplishing this the reading unit 21 stopped until the shifting of the upper, assembler entrance 42 is completed, whereupon the normal operation of the reading unit 21 is again initiated by means associated with the assembler en-' trance shifting means. Thus in the reading unit 21 a pair of extra bell cranks U and 30D are allocated respectively to the upward and downward shifting functions of the upper assembler entrance 42, and these bell cranks 30U and 30D are arranged so that when they are operated, the rearward arms thereof will close normally open switches'58U and 58D. The bell cranks'30U and 30D are selectively operated in response to special coded signals afforded by perforations in the tape 22, and when one of these bell cranks closes its related switch, means are rendered effective for stopping the reading unit 21, initiating operation of the power device or cylinder 45,

' and conditioning the apparatus for automatic restarting ofthe reading unit 21 upon completion of the shifting of the assembler entrance 42. For corresponding manual control, normally open push button switches 158U and 158D are connected in shunt across the respective switches 58U and 58D.

The control switches 58U and 58D are effective respectively to operate a pair of main control relays 60U and 60D, each of which has four sets of contacts that are identified by the same reference characters as the relays with the sufiixes 1 to 4 to distinguish the contact sets or pairs. In affording the energizing circuits for the relays 60U and 60D from a source of alternating current afforded by line wires 61 and 62, a lead 63 is extended from the wire 61 and has branch leads 63A and 63B extended respectively to one contact of each of the contact pairs 60U-2 and 60D-2, these two contact pairs each being normally closed. A wire 64A extends from the other contact of the pair 60D-2 to one terminal of the relay 60U, while a wire 64B extends from the 58D being connected by a wire 67D to a wire 67 that extends to the other line wire 62. Similarly, wires 65U and 66U in series connect the other terminal of the relay 60U to one terminal of the switch 58U, and the other terminal of the switch 58U is connected by a wire 67U to the wire 67. Thus each main relay 60D and 60U has an energizing circuit that includes a normally closed set of contacts of the other main relay, and when either relay is operated, it acts to disable the other main relay.

When either one of the main relays 60U or 60D is operated, it serves to energize the clutch magnet 25M, thus to stop the reading unit 21. Since the magnet 25M is of the direct current type, a rectifier 68 is provided that has its input connected across the line wires 61 and 62, and one output lead '70 from the rectifier 68 is connected to one terminal of the clutch magnet 25M. The other output lead of the rectifier 68 is connected by a Wire 71 to one contact of the pair 60U-1, the other contact of such pair being connected by a wire 72 to the other terminal of the clutch magnet M. Branch leads 71D and 72D extend from the wires 71' and 72 to the respective contacts of the pair 60D-1. The contact pairs 60D-1 and 60U-1 are normally open, and are in parallel, so that when either of the main relays is operated the magnet 25M will be energized and the reading unit 21 will be stopped.

The character of the rocking or operating movement of the bell cranks U and 30D is such that the related control switches are closed for but a short interval, hold ing circuits are provided for the main relays so that the relays may be maintained in their operated state, and the clutch 25 may be maintained disengaged until the shifting of the assembler entrance 42 has been completed. The respective holding circuits include normally closed switches 75U and 75D, which are disposed as shown in Fig. 3, so that when the assembler entrance 42 reaches its upper position, the lever 46 will engage and open the switch 75U, and when the entrance 42 reaches its lower or down position, the lever 46 will open the switch 75D.

The holding circuit for the main relay 60U is provided through the switch 75U and the normally open contact pair 60U-4, while the holding circuit for the relay 60D is provided through the switch 75D and the normally open pair 60D-4. Thus, the wire 67 has branch leads 167U and 167D extended respectively to one terminal of the two switches 75U and 75D. The other terminal of the switch 75D is connected by a wire 77D to one contact of the pair 60D-4, the other contact of this pair being connected by a wire 78D to the wire 65D. Similarly, the other contact of the switch 75U is connected by a wire 77U to one contact of the pair 60U-4, the other contact of this pair being connected by a wire 78U to the wire 65U.

When the reader unit 21 is thus stopped the shifting movement of the assembler entrance 42 must be initiated, but it is important to note that such shifting movement must be delayed for a time interval or delay period that is sufficient to allow the last-released matrix to completely clear the magazine front and enter completely into the assembler entrance 42. The present embodiment contemplates practically instantaneous response of the piston and cylinder device when the solenoid control valves 56U or 56D are energized, and to alford a positive time delay period to meet such situation, the present embodiment of the invention provides time delay means that are electrical in character which insure that the shifting movement of the assembler entrance 42 will. not start until the last matrix 40 has cleared the magazine. Such delay may however be provided in different ways, and by different means, as for example in the pneumatic system itself, either as a separate pneumatic delay means or by a throttled or slow acting air supply means in the pneumatic system, so that in such an instance the delay means would be pneumatic rather than electrical in character.

Thus in the embodiment herein illustrated the time delay means are afforded by a pair of time delay or slow-to-energize relays 80U and 80D the operating coils of which are connected at one terminal to the line wire 62 by a wire 81 and branch leads 81U and 81D. The other terminal of the relay 80U is connected by a wire $2U to one contact of the normally open contact pair 6tlU-3 the other contact of which is connected by a wire 63C and the wire 63 to the line wire 61. Similarly the other terminal of the relay 30D is connected by a wire 82D to one contact of the pair 60D-3, the other contact of such pair being connected by a wire 63E and the wire 63 to the line wire 61.

The relays WU and 80D have single sets or pairs of normally open relay contacts 80U-1 and 80D-1 that patrol the respective solenoids 56U and 56D. Thus thesolenoids 56D and 56U each have one terminal thereof connected by a wire 83 and branch leads 83D and 83U to the line wire 62. A wire 84U connects the other terminal of the solenoid 56U to one contact of the pair 80U-1, the other contact of which is connected by a wire 85U to the wire 82U so that when the contact pair 60U-3 is closed, it conditions a circuit from the line wire 61 for subsequent closure by the contact pair 80U-1 at the'end of the delay period of the relay 80U.

Similarly, a wire 84D connects the other terminal of the solenoid 54D to one contact of the pair 80D-1, the other contact of such pair being connected by a wire 85D to the wire 82D. Thus when the contact pair 60D-3 is closed to energize the relay 80D, it also conditions the energizing circuit for the solenoid 56D for subsequent closure or completion at the end of the time delay period of the relay 80D.

When, for example, the contacts 80U-1 of the relay 80H are closed at the end of the delay period thereof, the solenoid valve 56U is energized and the piston and cylinder 45 acts to rock the assembler entrance 42 from its lower positionto its upper position, and at the end of this shifting movement the arm 46 is eflective to open the limit switch U. This breaks the holding circuit for the main relay 60U so that this relay as well as the relay U are deenergized or released. The resultant opening of the relay contact pair 60U-1 de-energizes the clutch magnet 25M, causing the stop lever 258 to be withdrawn to its ineflective position so that the reader clutch 25 engages and thus starts normal reading operation of the unit 21.

From the foregoing description it will be evident that the present invention enables complete automatic control of mixed composition to be attained, and it will also be apparent that this advantageous result has been accomplished by simple and reliable means that require but slight physical modification of apparatus that is in wide commercial use.

Thus while I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Automatic record controlled apparatus for producing mixed composition comprising a linecasting and composing machine having a pair of magazines, a movable assembler entrance shiftable in opposite directions to different positions for cooperation selectively with one or the other of said magazines, power means for shifting said assembler entrance between said positions, a record reader for controlling said machine and having a pair of control elements allocated respectively to said magazines for selecting the direction of shifting movement to be imparted to said entrance, said record reader being operable in response to the reading of predetermined signals on a record to immediately actuate one or the other of said control elements, a control unit separate from said reader and including control means rendered efiective immediately upon actuation of either of said control elements to stop operation of said reader and to condition said power means for operation in the direction to which the actuated control element is allocated, time delay means forming part of said unit and set into operation by said control means at the time said reader is stopped and effective a predetermined time after the reader is stopped to initiate operation of said power means in the direction for whch it has been conditioned to shift said assembler entrance in the selected direction, and means operable upon completion of said shifting movement to terminate operation of said control means and thus re-start said reader.

2. In a linecasting and composing machine, upper and lower matrix magazines and matrix releasing elements associated therewith, an assembler entrance shiftable btween upper and lower positions for cooperation with the respective upper and lower magazines, power means for effecting such shifting, mechanism responsive to perforations in a record to control operation of said re leasing elements, stop means efiective when operated to stop said mechanism, said mechanism including a pair of control members allocated respectively to the upper and lower positions offlsaid entrance for operation selectively in response to predetermined record perforations, upper and lower main control devices operated selectively and instantaneously upon selective operation of said upper and lower control members, means governed by each of said main control devices for rendering said stop means effective immediately to stop said mechanism, upper and lower time delay devices rendered effective immediately and selectively by said upper and lower control devices and operable respectively at the end of a predetermined delay period to initiate operation of said power means to shift said assembler to said upper and lower position, and means rendered eflective when the assembler reaches the selected position to ter minate operation of the main control device that has been operated and thus re-start said mechanism.

3. In a linecasting and composing machine, a pair of matrix magazines and matrix releasing elements associated therewith, an assembler entrance shiftable between two positions for cooperation with one or the other of said magazines, power means for effecting such shifting, mechanism responsive to perforations in a record to control operation of said releasing elements, a clutch for stopping said mechanism, a pair of control members allocated to the two positions of said entrance and associated with said mechanism for operation selectively in response to predetermined record perforations, a pair of main relays allocated to the respective positions of said assembler entrance, operating circuits for the respective main relays for closure by the respective operating elements, holding circuits for said main relays arranged for closure upon operation of the respective relays, normally closed disabling switches in each relay each included in the operating circuit of the other relay, means rendered effective upon operation of either of said relays to open said clutch and stop said mechanism, means rendered efiective selectively upon operation of one of said relays to initiate operation of said power means to shift said assembler entrance to the selected position, and normally closed limit switch means in the respective holding circuits arranged to be opened upon completion of a shifting movement to de-energize the relay that has been operated and initiate normal operation of said mechanism.

4. In a linecasting and composing machine, a pair of matrix magazines and matrix releasing elements associated therewith, an assembler entrance shiftable between two positions for cooperation with one or the other of said magazines, power means for effecting such shifting, mechanism responsive to perforations in a record to control operation of said releasing elements, stop means operable when effective to stop said mechanism, a pair of control members allocated to the two positions of said entrance and associated with said mechanism for operation selectively in response to predetermined record perforations, a pair of governing systems rendered operable immediately and selectively upon selective operation of said control members, means in each governing system for rendering said stop means effective, as soon as such governingsystem is operated, to stop said mechanism, a time delay device in each such system operable at the end of its delay period to initiate operation of said power means to shift said assembler to the selected position, and means rendered effective when the assembler reaches the selected position to render stop means ineifective and thereby re-initiate operation of said mechanism.

1 5. In a linecasting and composing machine having a pair of magazines with associated matrix release escapements, a movable assembler entrance shiftable to different positions for cooperation selectively with one or the other of said magazines and having escapement operating rods rendered selectively elfective on the release escapements of the respective magazines in accordance with the posi tion of said assembler entrance, power means for shifting said assembler entrance between said positions, a record reader for controlling said machine having a pair of control elements allocated respectively to said magazines, said record reader being operable in response to the reading of predetermined signal on a record to actuate one or the other of said control elements selectively, a pair of selecting switches adapted to be closed by the respective control elements, a magnetic clutch operable when energized to stop said record reader, a pair of main relays arranged to be energized selectively upon closure of the related control switch, holding circuits for the respective main relays each including a limit switch, a slow-to-energize control relay for each main relay having an energizing circuit closed by its main relay when said main relay is operated, means including contacts in the respective control relays for causing operation of said power means to shift said assembler entrance to a selected position, and means operated by said power means effective to open the related one of said limit switches upon completion of said shifting movement to thereby initiate normal operation of said reader.

6. In a linecasting and composing machine, a pair of matrix magazines, an assembler entrance shiftable between two positions for cooperation with one or the other of said magazines, power means for effecting such shifting, mechanism responsive to record signals to control operation of said releasing elements, a clutch for stopping said mechanism, a pair of control members allocated to the two positions of said entrance and associated with said mechanism for operation selectively in response to predetermined record perforations, a pair of main relays allocated to the respective positions of said assembler entrance, operating circuits for the respective main relays for closure by the respective operating elements, holding circuits for said main relays arranged for closure upon operation of the respective relays, normally closed disabling switches in each relay each included in the operating circuit of the other relay, means rendered effective upon operation of either of said relays to open said clutch and stop said mechanism, mean rendered effective selectively upon operation of one of said main relays and including contacts in the operated main relay to initiate operation of said power means a predetermined time after stopping of said mechanism to shift said assembler entrance to the selected position, and normally closed limit switch means in the respective holding circuits arranged to be opened upon completion of a shif ing movement to de-energize the main relay that has been operated and initiate normal operation of said mechanism.

7. In a linecasting and composing machine having first and second magazines with associated matrix release escapements, a movable assembler entrance shiftable to first or second positions for cooperation selectively with said first or second magazines and having escapement operating rods rendered selectively elfective on the release escapements of the respective magazines in accordance with the position of said assembler entrance, power means for shifting said assembler entrance back and forth between said first and second positions, a record reader for controlling said machine having first and second control elements allocated respectively to the selection of said first and second magazines, said record reader being operable in response to the reading of predetermined signals on a record to actuate one or the other of said control elements, first and second selecting switches adapted to be closed by first and second control elements respectively, a magnetic clutch operable when energized to stop said record reader, first and second main relays arranged to .be energized selectively upon closure of said first or second control switch, holding circuits for each of the main relays each including a limit switch, first and second slow-to-energize control relays allocated to said first and second main relays and each having an energizing circuit closed by its main relay, means including contacts in the respective control relays for causing operation of said power means to shift said assembler entrance to a selected position, and means operated by said power means eflective to open the related one of said limit switches upon completion of said shifting movement to thereby release the main relay that has been operated and initiate normal operation of said reader.

8. In a linecasting and composing machine having a pair of magazines with associated matrix release escapements, a movable assembler entrance shiftable in opposite directions to different positions for cooperation selectively with one or the other of said magazines and having escapement operating rods rendered selectively efiective on the release escapements of the respective magazines in accordance with the position of said assembler entrance, power means for shifting said assembler entrance between said positions, a record reader for controlling said machine and having a pair of control elements allocated respectively to said magazines for selecting the direction 10 of shifting movement to be imparted to said entrance, said record reader being operable in response to the reading of predetermined signals on a record to actuate .one or the other of said control elements, a control unit effective at the end of such time delay period and in accordance with the control element that has been actuated to cause operation of said power means to shift said assembler entrance in the selected direction, and means operable upon completion of said shifting movement and operatively associated with said control means of said unit to initiate normal operation of said reader.

UNITED STATES PATENTS References Cited in the file of this patent 2,273,032 Goetz Feb. 17, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS 865,676 France Mar. 3, 1941 

